Legislative Advocacy Award

Purpose of the Award

The Arkansas Legislative Advocacy Award was new for 2004. It recognizes members for "outstanding contributions of time and effort in local, state or federal legislative advocacy on behalf of the Human Resources profession." This recipient demonstrates aggressive leadership in building relationships with legislators, taking action directly or indirectly affecting law and policy, introducing and presenting our organization and mission(s) to key media outlets and legislators, and developing strong grassroots initiatives within the organization.

Eligibility

• Member of area chapter or SHRM for at least two years prior to nomination; and
• Meets the basis for selection criteria for this Award.
• A group of members collaborating on the same project may be nominated and considered together. In such circumstance, any one member of the group meeting the two year membership minimum will suffice.

Basis for Selection Criteria

Candidate must meet at least two of these criteria:

• Participation in committees, task forces, or work groups involving legislation;
• Presentation to groups on legislation;
• Active participation in ARSHRM State council, Inc. conferences, preferably legislative conference attended within prior two years;
• Development of strong grass roots initiatives;
• Serves as key legislative contact and promotes lobbying efforts;
• Acts as a mentor or inspiring members who are learning how to increase their legislative advocacy skills;
• Makes long term, consistent contributions as well as shorter-term project-related contributions to legislative advocacy/activities;
• Initiates or supports creative application of the use of technology in increasing awareness and education about legislative matters to members;
• Promotes and develops improved understanding of the importance of legislative advocacy and activities on behalf of the Human Resource profession;
• Promotes and develops a sustained legislative approach to improving the ability of members to participate in legislative advocacy on behalf of the organization;
• Promotes and develops a program resulting in a sustained increase in member support for legislative advocacy on behalf of the organization;
• Significantly influences attitudes and perceptions of the organization by public or private officials in a position to support the organization’s missions and legislative goals.
• Other considerations include community involvement, participation in Human Resource organizations and other organizations such as local Chamber of Commerce; impact of projects or activities.
• Other recognized outstanding legislative service for the organization, such as letter writing, action or information memos or letters to members, establishing legislative network, writing or publishing articles concerning legislation of interest to members, arranging for legislators to be guests or speakers at meetings, etc.

Past Recipients

2007 – Eric Garvin and David Purifoy, PHR
2006 – Andrea Woods, JD
2005 – Russell Gunter, SPHR, Little Rock
2004 – Nancy Martinsen, PHR